Hemodialysis
Hemo is the Greek word for blood. Dialysis means a filtering process. Hemodialysis (HD) means the process of filtering blood.
In hemodialysis, the filtering process takes place in a machine outside the body.
A doctor surgically creates a permanent access to the bloodstream so that blood can be diverted through the dialysis machine and back into the body. This access point is called a fistula or graft.
Hemodialysis treatments may be administered:
- in a dialysis center, in a hospital or a separate outpatient building
- in a minimal care unit where you are more involved in the treatment process
- at home where you have a lot of responsibility for your treatment sessions and more flexibility in the actual time of day for each treatment.
Hemodialysis usually requires that you have three treatment sessions a week. Each session usually lasts between 3 and 6 hours.
You may need to restrict your diet and fluid intake to minimize the build up of wastes in your body the days between treatment sessions.
May 1, 2006
